The two-mile route, which begins and ends at Tulane’s academic quad (behind Gibson Hall near St. Charles Avenue), will take walkers and runners on a tour across Tulane’s Uptown campus. Participants are encouraged to costume in blue – the color of prostate cancer awareness – for the event, which is being held in partnership with the New Orleans Track Club. A party featuring complimentary food, beverages and New Orleans-style entertainment by The Original Royal Street Players will follow the run.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, one in every seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer; one in 36 will die of this disease.

“Surprisingly, there aren’t very many events of this type dedicated to raising awareness and research funds for prostate cancer,” said Dr. Oliver Sartor, one of the few medical oncologists in the world focused on prostate cancer and the director of Tulane’s prostate cancer research program. “Think of all the pink you see during the month of October. We’re hoping to follow the ladies’ lead and see a wave of blue second line across the finish line at Tulane on Sept. 20.”

Between 2010-2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved six new drugs for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Sartor played a lead role in the development of two of these drugs and served in an advisory role for two others. All proceeds from the NOLA Blue Doo Run will benefit Tulane’s Prostate Cancer Research Fund.